Sun Bank Thanks Leesburg Police

LEESBURG — Officials at Sun Bank have sent the Leesburg Police Department a letter of thanks for saving them up to $26,000 they could have lost in a credit card scam.

Addressed to City Manager Rex Taylor, the letter from Sun Bank Security Manager Karen Newsom praised Lt. Jerry Gehlbach and his detectives division for breaking up the fraud ring.

''Not only did we receive exceptional support from Jerry and his staff, but their professionalism and outstanding police work in developing names of suspects through extensive research led to the arrest of three individuals as well as one outstanding warrant,'' Newsom wrote.

In addition to the money the detectives saved the bank, Newsom said another $130,000 to $200,000 likely was saved for the credit card industry.

''I was very pleased with the letter,'' Gehlbach said.

The credit card scam operated in Leesburg at a downtown television and stereo shop called Tri-City Sight and Sound. Another store called National TV operated in Edgewater, and a third is thought to have operated in Clearwater. Operators of the stores were charging holders of Visa, MasterCard and American Express credit cards for purchases they never made. The men later collected cash credit by sending in the receipts.

In March, Leesburg detectives arrested two men thought to have operated the store. Another arrest was made later, with one more expected, Gehlbach said.

Leesburg detectives, who worked on the case for more than three months, learned of the scheme when a confidential informant reported some irregular retail activity.

The detectives worked with Sun Bank investigator Lou Damke after its security division experienced problems with Tri-City Sight and Sound in the Sun Bank consumer credit center.